Don Shane, a longtime sportscaster, died at the age of 70. His wife, Mona, confirmed this, and she joined WXYZ legend Diana Lewis to remember Don’s life and work. This past Saturday, February 25, Mona Shane went on the network to talk about the death of her late husband.
Shane had been a part of the WXYZ family for more than 20 years. He had a big impact on the way sports were covered in Detroit. HITC looks back on his important career and finds out what happened to him.
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Don Shane Began His Journey at WXYZ in 1989
Don Shane has been the voice of Detroit’s sports scene for the past 20 years. Since 1989, when he started working at WXYZ’s Channel 7, he has given all of the sports news. Shane paid attention to everything, from the Stanley Cup to the NBA finals.
Shane’s Dare Don segments, in which the sportscaster took on different challenges, also made him famous on the network. In one well-known challenge, Don Shane went up against Chris Spielman, who used to play for the Lions. Shane got three broken ribs from the fight, but the fights are still a big part of his legacy as a broadcaster.
Don Shane Passes Away at 70
It was confirmed on February 25 that Don Shane had died at the age of 70. Shane died at his home in California. His two children, Justin and Lindsay, were there when he died.
WXYZ or Mona Shane didn’t say what killed her. Don Shane’s health has been bad over the past few years, though. The late sportscaster left his job in 2012, which was over ten years ago. The Detroit News says that in recent years, he has been sick.
Mona, his wife of 38 years, and his two children will miss him. Last May, Don, and Mona Shane got their first grandchild.
WXYZ Viewers Honor Don Shane with Tribute
Since Mona Shane confirmed her husband’s death on WXYZ-TV, fans of the late sportscaster have taken to the internet to pay their respects.
“The heart of that WXYZ 7 Detroit sports department is all gone now,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “For YEARS it was Don Shane and his two great producers Reggie Hall and Rei J. They made it happen. All 3 have passed. Somewhere up there one HECK of a TV ‘live shot’ is going on!”
No one in the media loved Detroit sports more than Don Shane. Rest in peace brother.
— Terry Foster (@terryfosterdet) February 25, 2023
At their last game, the Detroit Red Wings also paid tribute to the late sportscaster by recognizing his work with WXYZ.
